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Does BMW owe us an i8 M or M1? The case for a BMW M supercar

It is getting really hard as an enthusiast to remain a fan of BMW and the M brand. At one time a shining symbol of the automotive enthusiast, the everyday supercar, the pinnacle of the Ultimate Driving Machine ideal, M and BMW as a whole have taken a tumble in the aforementioned areas. Yes, times change and companies need to evolve but there is no reason for a company that claims it 'only makes one thing' to abandon making that thing.

Everyone is aware of the BMW i brand and its 'electric mobility' focus. You want to build cars with less horsepower than a blender and that offer an equally annoying aural experience? Go ahead BMW, knock yourself out. BMW is committing tremendous resources to this project and betting big the i brand will pay off.

It just may do so but with 100,000 i3 units needing to be sold to break even and 10,000 a year for the i8 talk about a huge risk. Talk about a huge investment. If BMW is putting so many of their resource to work for the i brand why in the world is M not getting a chance to utilize this huge resource allocation and investment to its fullest? Why produce a lightweight halo sports car with tons of high-tech carbon fiber and aluminum only to avoid giving it to the division you already have with a storied history that could actually make the real Ultimate Driving Machine with the platform?

BMW says an M version of the i8 does not make sense. M says they want a chance to build one. It seems there is an internal power struggle regarding BMW's philosophy and direction. Why is there a problem here? Let BMW i do their thing and let BMW M do its thing or why even have the two divisions? If BMW M uses the i8 chassis the BMW i8 does not become any less 'i' does it? Perhaps BMW is worried that people actually will opt for a high performance version of the car if given the choice as what other reason is there to not further utilize a platform when BMW is all about platform sharing and increasing sales volume these days? BMW is scared to give customers to the choice which means they may not even believe their own crap. They could but won't give customers an M option.

We can forgive this, ALL OF IT, if you just once, just once, didn't spit in enthusiast's faces while robbing them blind. BMW, if you never had the intention of producing a new M1 why in the world did you call the M version of the E82 1-Series the 1M specifically to not use the M1 moniker? Obviously you know what M1 means. Before the 1M ever was named or came out BimmerBoost wrote this about the name:

By not naming this vehicle the M1, BMW would be making a stronger statement than simply taking the path that is easiest and most readily identifiable to the average person. By simply giving it a name that breaks the naming convention used for other numerically designated models, M3/M5, and naming it a 1M, they will be making a strong statement to their core audience. A statement which decisively tells the world BMW has not forgotten they once protected the M badge. BMW has not forgotten M1 belongs on the flagship Motorsport model. BMW has not forgotten they once stated SUV's were not fitting for the M division. BMW has not forgotten they once refused to take the path of least resistance with their motors. If they do not use the M1 namesake, it means BMW has not forgotten that their history means more than their marketing.

BMW, you did the right thing in naming the 1M the way you did despite thinking the average buyer might not be intelligent enough to comprehend why you broke the standard M naming convention (and with all the people who call it an M1 that says a lot). It is time to do the right thing again and use the M1 name you protected for a reason. It is time to build the Ultimate Driving Machine. It is now or never, either you produce an enthusiast car or just admit you no longer build 'only one thing.' Build the i8 M or M1 as you have put your hardcore and loyal fans through enough and yet we are still here. If you do not, we won't be for much longer.

That is absolutely fine. In 2014 the badge on the back of a German car representing the Ultimate Driving Machine says AMG Black Series, not M.

In 2015 the EU law dictates that on average every car sold in the EU can at a max produce 130 grams of CO2 per km.
For car manufacturers that exceed this limit by more than 35% must pay a fine for every car registered.
You do the math.
BMW is gonna push this i Brand like crazy to create air for their moneymakers, which produce far more CO2 then 130 grams/km.

In 2021 the limit for cars will drop to 95 grams/km, and they have to consume (on average) no more than 3,9 liters of fuel per 100 km max.
There is a mathematical loophole for cars producing less than 50 grams/km counting double in the calculations, but that is temporally and that effect will decline over time.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but these are the rules European Car manufacturers will have to obey to and are forced to implement to the cars they produce.

In 2015 the EU law dictates that on average every car sold in the EU can at a max produce 130 grams of CO2 per km.
For car manufacturers that exceed this limit by more than 35% must pay a fine for every car registered.
You do the math.
BMW is gonna push this i Brand like crazy to create air for their moneymakers, which produce far more CO2 then 130 grams/km.

In 2021 the limit for cars will drop to 95 grams/km, and they have to consume (on average) no more than 3,9 liters of fuel per 100 km max.
There is a mathematical loophole for cars producing less than 50 grams/km counting double in the calculations, but that is temporally and that effect will decline over time.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but these are the rules European Car manufacturers will have to obey to and are forced to implement to the cars they produce.

This is the thing I don't understand. Why is BMW deciding to open a brand new factory to build the new X7 - while knowing this car will not be an example of anything efficient. I REALLY do not understand what BMW is thinking with this. They shove "driving dynamics" down our throat, change over the NA motors to FI for the M models (for sake of efficiency) - and then decide to build a ridiculously large X7?

If they are going to push the fleet average MPG numbers up, they should do it with a badass sports car - not some huge/ridiculous SUV.

I completely understand what you are saying, but am super confused as to why BMW is doing what they are doing. I understand people are GOING to buy SUVs, but they already have at least 3 SUV models - and this is supposedly a manufacturer of sport sedans? I am really starting to get annoyed at BMW - they should bring out something amazing, it's been too long.

This is the thing I don't understand. Why is BMW deciding to open a brand new factory to build the new X7 - while knowing this car will not be an example of anything efficient. I REALLY do not understand what BMW is thinking with this. They shove "driving dynamics" down our throat, change over the NA motors to FI for the M models (for sake of efficiency) - and then decide to build a ridiculously large X7?

I don't necessarily disagree with the X7 idea by itself because BMW has no competition against the GL, but I see what you mean looking at the whole picture, where they are constantly jamming "efficient" down our throats. I think the real issue here is to stop being a hypocrite. Everything BMW says contradicts itself.

I don't disagree, but from the beginning bmw was never about super cars they were about creating the ultimate driving experience from any car in their line up. Going back to the i8 it doesn't live up to that, all of the other manufactures that have made cars with a similar hybrid set up are far superior to the i8 in performance.

I don't disagree, but from the beginning bmw was never about super cars they were about creating the ultimate driving experience from any car in their line up. Going back to the i8 it doesn't live up to that, all of the other manufactures that have made cars with a similar hybrid set up are far superior to the i8 in performance.

I know but the first M car was the M1 and they specifically left that name alone with the implication of reserving it for a purpose.

Secondly, they have done a whole lot to push enthusiasts away so this would make up for it. Plus, when did BMW ever have a lightweight carbon fiber $100k+ chassis to play with before?